Anyone found as they age, the're more suceptible to high temp. extremes?

[Momz]

I have ridden to many rallies in my 40+ years of motorcycling. But it seems that as I age, I'm less inclined to ride in hot weather.

In my twenties I rode from MI to AZ and back several times in one summer. And yes, it was uncomfortable at times.

In 2001 I rode to Sturgis for my very first time, and the 100+ degrees seemed to reduce my ability to function in a proper riding style.

The VRCC rallies in Paducah were not as much fun to ride in either.

Is it just me, or do others on this board have similar issues?

[Grumpy]

Yep, pushing 70. Riding to Inzane last year in over 100 degree temps had to stop a lot. Usually run fuel stop to fuel stop. In the high temps was stopping every 40 to 50 miles to take a short break. One of the joys of getting old.

[doubletee]

Yep, my wife and I both shy away from riding when it gets much above 90*F. She's more susceptible to problems with the heat than am I, but I'm no fan of it either. Coming across the IN turnpike on the way home from InZane in 2011 about did us in.

[OverdueBill]

My problem is just the opposite.  I used to be able to ride in the 50s but now 70 is as low as I can take.  The 90s and 100s are just fine to ride in for me.  62 years now.

[Jess from VA]

Being raised on an island in MI (where you froze your ass off for months every Winter), I have never been able to take the high heat and humidity.  Only in the high heat/no humidity Californistan desert was I good with heat.

[BF]

Anyone found as they age, the're more suceptible to high temp. extremes?


Yes, and living in Florida, the heat and humidity of the sumer sucks. 

The older I get, the more I can't take it. 

It's the time of year when the Valk gets parked more often than riden. 

[3fan4life]

50⁰ F - 99⁰ F

I can handle ok.

Anything much higher or lower and the fun of riding fades quickly.  

[sandy]

I use to take 110 pretty well. Now I'm 65 and anything over 100 is just too much. I still ride to work at 110 but the longer day rides don't happen. I've lived in AZ since '71. After 3-4 years here, we have cranberry juice for blood. Below 60 and I've got a jacket on.

[old2soon]

My extremes of weather ain't  as extreme as the used to was.  As the ambient temperature gets higher my stops-miles between-get closer together.  Had a bunch of days here in the Sho Me last summer that just seemed like the heat was sucking the life right outa me.    RIDE SAFE.

[ricoman]

I agree, plus I find myself taking things slower.

And I have noticed that as I age people whisper and sometimes mumble a bit.

[solo1]

Lessee, where should I start.

At 85 years, my temperature tolerance range has narrowed considerably.  It's now about 60 degrees to about 85.

My Vstrom's mufflers are much quieter than they used to be. ( I don't wear my hearing aids while riding.)

On a different note, replacement of my cataracts with new lenses has  improved my eyesight to better than it ever was before.  I'm thinking of riding at night again.

My knees aren't the best, that's why the Valk was sold.  They're slightly improved for now but new knees are in the future.  If that's done, taking a quote from Joseph Wambach's book "The Black Marble", I will be known as 'Spare Parts Doenges'

all the bitchin' aside, I still can ride and that's all that I need.

Wayne

[blastedbugler]

Now 75 & long hot trips are getting harder.
15 years ago I did a 11 hour stint on a Harley in hot weather & had trouble getting off the bike at the end.
Took days to get over it.
Of course those were the pose days of open face helmet with no screen.
Now my limit for a day is 500 km on Aussie roads which are not as good as in USA.
Drinking lots of fluid keeps the dizzies at bay.
You need to keep the Electrolytes up ( not the soft drink type ).
Buy the powder ( Staminade ? ) & mix your own & drink at every stop.
Average speed has also dropped.
Don ( Aussie )

[cookiedough]

Just the nature of the beast, sucks getting older.

For most of us under 40/50,  hot or cold didn't bother us, but as we age, those extremes can do some weird things to our body.

[Hooter]

I quit sweating druing a summer barn fire years ago. Since then much anything over 85 doesn't work for me.

[Willow]

I'm 62.  Not old by my standards, but getting closer.

My range is still what it used to be as near as I can tell.

I think on the high end it has more to do with our increased use of air conditioning than our age.  Some of us may be confusing getting soft with getting old.   

[gregk]

Up north like a few of us 95 & over the bikes dont come out unless your nuts. 90-95 ain't no fun. I'm 61, had to weld under the truck today an sweated like a hog. As wi llow said if you are in A/C all the time it will get to you.  I remember Inzane out in Colo. We ran the Gunnison with a friend an he had big problems but he's a 4x. I'm a 2x and when we left we went north up to Lovell MT. And I could hardly make it without stop in for water between towns. I remember once on the way to a helmet protest in Madison my wife got a mild case of heat stroke on the I terstate. I had a rag water an ice which saved her bacon.   Not to worry though for at Inzane this year you will be surrounded by water to dive into.

[Rosie]

Im 55 and can still take the heat OK but like it was said before it definetly can take some of the fun out of the ride. The secret for me is to drink   water constantly. I saw a article once about how much you need to drink on a bike whn ridin in the heat ( wish I could find it) what I do remember is the amount they recomend to drink is hard to do.

[J.Mencalice]

Im 55 and can still take the heat OK but like it was said before it definetly can take some of the fun out of the ride. The secret for me is to drink   water constantly. I saw a article once about how much you need to drink on a bike whn ridin in the heat ( wish I could find it) what I do remember is the amount they recomend to drink is hard to do.

Yup...hydrate...pee...hydrate...pee...etc.etc.

[shortleg]

  I know how you feel.
I have found that I can put on stuff
to stay warm , but you only want to see me take
so much off as I ride.
  In 2006 riding to Inzane our group rode in 105 and
better. We did suffer.
          Shortleg[Dave]

[John Schmidt]

Yes, age has made many of us more susceptible to temperature extremes, I'm no different. When I first moved to Orlando nearly 50 yrs. ago, was in my 20's, and the Florida heat and humidity never bothered me. I've found that now in my mid 70's, if I stay active the temp. variations don't bother me nearly as much. Must have something to do with keeping the circulation up to par. I still have a problem riding when the temps are in the 90's and above. I just don't like arriving looking like I just took a shower with my clothes on. Getting caught in traffic is hard to take at times, something that happens regularly in the Orlando metro area. I never cared to ride in the cold extremes, which to me is below 45. The wind affects the chill factor and I find it hard to relax and enjoy the ride. If the temp is over 90 with a matching humidity, anymore....I'll take the car usually. I have ridden many times on days where the temp is at/above 100, but with a low humidity I was able to handle it. In some respects I have to agree with Willow, some of our inability to tolerate the extremes most likely come from being a bit on the soft side.

[olddog1946]

I have never been fond of or able to tolerate the cold all too well. Now even with heated gear my lower riding temp is 31...Rode in 105 degree temps coming home from AZ 2 years ago, I wore mesh pants and jacket, and had a coolin vest that I'd wet down at every rest area and gas stop. I was amazed at how well it works, if only for a short time. I most often wear a mesh jacket even in the hotter temps, I stay cooler without the sun beating down on me. However you ride, in the heat: hydration is the key, in the cold, lots of layers or heated gear.

[bigguy]

Only 56. While I'm far from disabled, I haven't gotten back to where I was before the surgery in Sept. 2011. I've been going to the gym, thinking that I just have to work through what ever barrier is there. But my stamina is nothing compared to what it was. I have to really grit my teeth sometimes to just get going. If I'd let myself, I'd just sit the couch every afternoon. I still get out in the yard, and work. But it's more of a chore I force on myself rather than the joy it used to be. And I've discovered that even though I drive myself off the couch to do chores, it takes me all weekend, going at it as hard as I can, to do what I did on a Saturday morning just a couple of years ago.
I still ride the bike to work, and for trips around town. It's my primary vehicle. It just haven't taken a nice, long joy ride. I want to head out on a nice long ride, but it's too easy to talk myself out of it. There's always something else that needs to be attended to. I used to let that stuff wait until I got through riding. Not so much any more.
I'm too young to be this old. I'm not going to let myself sit down and moulder. But it gets old fighting it. I'd like to enjoy some of the physical activites I used too, rather than doggedly have to drive myslef to them as chores.

[.]

It looks like a consensus has been reached here and I have to concur. I'm not sure if I'm concurring with the issue of temperature extremes or with the idea that I've thrown in with a great bunch of geezers but I'm with ya. 

At 53, I CAN tolerate riding in temperatures as low as 30F and as high as 100F for short distances but it is much more uncomfortable than it used to be and too much of it doesn't do much for me. I get into a much more tolerable comfort range from around 45F to 85F but even those two ends of the temperature range are a perfect example of a little going a long way. I truly enjoy riding in anything ranging from 55F to about 80F.

That said, I'll ride in just about any temperature for at least a little while but I am much, much more susceptible to heat extremes than I was just a few years ago. 

[Jess from VA]

BigGuy, your post describes me to a T... except no surgery.  Spent 10 years building up a beautiful landscape (and home repair), mainly because I prefer being outside to inside... now all the upkeep on this is no longer fun, just a big PITA.  Used to enjoy suiting up in old clothes and working all day to sundown, now I go out at 10 for a few hours and call it good.  I suspect the key to my slowing down is not so much age as softness (per Willow).... I need to get back on the treadmill and neighborhood walking with the other old folks.  Retirement is everything I hoped it would be, but my discipline to stay active is creeping toward laziness..... and the tight pants that goes with it.